Sheet metal cap



Feb. 12, 1935. H. Vl RAU Lgg@ SHEET METAL CAP 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March l0, 1935 www@ H. V. RAU

Fel.A 12, 1935.,

SHEET METAL CAP Filed March l0, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- andthenrolli'ngoverfthe?armstdcauseedge to= Patented Feb. 12, 1935 y impossible by metalLdr-awingfand forming diesto make a non-circulansheetmetallcapwitlr-a-con@ tirniousA int-urnedi reenforcing edge andi fastener engaging members formi-ng anon-circular open`^ ing in tlre-b`aekfof=thelcap.` 'I-hepractice heretofcreliasbeen Go-provides blankhaving a/.num ber Vof arms eXtendingf-fromf'thebody of: tlfebltnlsV edge contact thereof the-ends of the-armscutaway tolforrrraicircular'openingJ for-afastener socket whenQ the= arms were; rolled-' inte edge to edge engagement.

y The-presentinvention comprisesav sheet-metal fastenerv capU of'j non-circular contour? having a back spaced? apartf from: a continuous inturned reenforcementrim snap` socket supports extending--fronrthe integral-'rim'. f 'Iv'liecapcomprising the present invention isf-'merel economical to manufacturevand'isvoff "suclflr-isturd-y;` solidiconstruction as to withstandfrough-usagefar-better thans-caps ofil1 the# prior art provided with the rolled in fingers.

The present invention also comprises the method of producing the present cap wherein a noncircular shaped blank is drawn into the shape of the outline of the non-circular cap with an upstanding continuous edge which is subjected, to a plurality of forming operations that gradually inturns the edge and the socket supporting members with the result that the back of the cap becomes an ornamental member which covers a fastener socket and with the face of the cap comprising an extremely strong rigid construcytion adapted to be securely locked in place around the fastener socket when the parts are assembled. Y

t is recognized that the present invention may be carried out in constructions and by methods other than those specifically disclosed herewith. Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as illustrative and not in the limiting sense.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l illustrates a blank for an octagonal shaped cap.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View illustrating the drawing operation from the blank shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the construction shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates the rst forming operation periormed'on the shape shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 illustrates the second forming operation.

Fig. 6 is a plan view oi the completed octagonal cap at the end of the third forming operation.

` Fig. 'f2-iis an elevational viewa'ofatheicap shown.

ini-:Figa 6"; I y

Fig. 8 illustrates the octagonal. cap locked in position? uponra' fastener socket.'v

Y Fig.'V 9. illustrates.- the blankiforf an oval-:shaped 5 capil Y Fig; '1'D.: illustratesi; thee drawing. operation.A on', the Voval cap..

Fig;4 1-.1 illustrates. the rst': forming. operation: ontheshapeashown in Fig..y 10.

1&2; illustrates the: secondforming oper-1y ation. v'

Figf'llslillustrates; an elevational. side view of.

tlieiinishedovallcap.1 Y l Fig. 15252; sectional .view illustrating .the oval capzin position upon'a. fastenerfsocket;

/Ir'r accordance.' with the: present invention of making non-cylindrical cfastener,` caps: from sheet metal; ablank as1illustratedfin. Fig;r 1A is out from Y sheet metaband comprises a body; portion'. 1f provided witliioeta'gonahsides Zand7 witlrfastener soek'et.holdingzarms-fiifY Y liiFig'; Ziilustrateszthe first step; of.: manufacture which is a drawing operation. This operation shapes the blank into a cap having a back 5 with an upstanding oetagonal rim 6, and with the arms 4 positioned substantially parallel to the axis of the rim 6.

Fig. 4 illustrates the second operation on the octagonal shaped blank in that the upper end of the rim is bent inward to begin to form a flange 7 and the arms 4 are slightly inclined inwardlyV toward each other.

Fig. 5 illustrates the third forming operation in which the arms 4 are further bent inward and and the rim portion 7 is further depressed.

Fig. 6 illustrates the face of the iinished cap after the third forming operation, in which the rim 7 has been set to iinal position and the arms 4 are positioned opposing each other in such manner that the segmental faces 8 on the arms form locking faces against which the fastener socket is adapted to be set. Y

The opening 9 in the face formed by the rim 7 and the arms 4 is a distorted hour-glass shape, the general outline of which, except for the interruption by the arms 4, is similar to the octagonal outline of the button. 50

Fig. 9 illustrates the steps to form an oval type button. The rblank 10 in this case is formed somewhat of the shape oi a violin. This blank is then subjected to a drawing operation which produces an oval shaped back 11 extending into 55 a rim 12 having cut-outs 14 and 15 in the upper edge thereof. The second operation (Fig. 11) after making the blank, is a forming operation turns in the edges of the rim 12 in such manner that the edges of the rim are directed toward each other and the sides of the rim 12 are made somewhat oval.

The third operation (Fig. 12) after making the blank, is also a forming operation continues to round the sides 12 and brings the edges 14 and 15 in a more opposed position.

The nal operation Figs. 13 and 14 which is also a forming operation, somewhat flattens the face of the cap so that the cut-outs 14 and 15 are now opposed to each other to comprise a locking recess to hold a fastener socket, and the side wall 12 is blended into the back 11 to form an oval rounded surface. The opening 16 is somewhat like a double edged keyhole opening which generally conforms to the outline of the cap with the exception of the enlargement to receive the fastener socket.

The operations specified to produce the caps described may be broadly stated to comprise a blanking step to form the flat blank from sheet metal, and a drawing step, followed by a plurality of forming steps. These several steps are preferably performed in a multiple die press where in between each operation of the press, the work moves progressively step by step from one die to the next until all of the dies are filled and are operating simultaneously to carry out all operations to complete a cap. When all dies are lled and sheet metal stock is being fed into the press, each operation of the press results in the discharge from the press of a completed cap.

Fig. 8 shows the octagonal cap set over a fastener 1'7 which is mounted through material such as leather or other material 18 and with the head 19 of the socket expanded within the opening 8 in the octagonal cap to lock the cap in place as an ornamental cover for the fastener socket.

Fig. 15 illustrates a cross-section showing the oval-shaped cap set over a socket 17 with the head of the socket 19 expanded within the cap in the same manner as the octagonal cap is illustrated in Fig. 8.

The present invention results in a strong, rigid non-circular cover cap for fasteners, which cover cap comprises one continuous shaped piece of sheet metal without any breaks in the sheet metal such as heretofore been provided in the art. The present cap, therefore, is not only economical to manufacture, but is very rigid in construction so as to support the operation of expanding the socket within the cap to lock the cap securely in position. Y

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a sheet metal cap of non-circular form comprising a back, an edge portion, an inturned rim having substantially the non-circular outline of the adjacent edge portion, and cap securing members extending inwardly from said rim. y

2. A sheet metal cap of non-circular form comprising a back, an inturned rim formed of a continuous metal to provide a hollow cap member, said rim and said back being made of one continuous piece of metal, and fastener securing means carried by said rim.

3. A sheet metal cap of non-circular form comprising a back, and an inturned non-circular reenforcing rim of continuous unbroken metal substantially parallel to said back, and means extending from said rim adapted to enclose and interlock with a fastener socket, said rim and said back being made of one continuous piece of metal.

4. A sheet metal cap of non-circular outline comprising a continuous member having an inturned continuous metal rim spaced from the back to form a hollow enclosing cap, and means provided in said rim to centrally locate a fastener socket Within said hollow cap and to interlock with said socket to retain said cap in position over said socket.

f HENRY V. RAU. 

